| Notes |
- [,\ IRAM A. SHELDON has for almost a third ’ \ of a century been engaged in merchandis
ing in Burlington, Wis., and is one of its 3') most prominent citizens. He has taken an active part in all of its public affairs, has done much for its npbuildmg and is therefore widely kn_own, needing no especial introduction to its citizens. He was born in Utica, Macomb County Mich., May 13, 1835, and was the second in order of birth in a family ofseven children, four sonsand three daughters, of whom four are yet living. Their parents, Orson and Rose Ann (Lippitt) Sheldon, are mentioned on another page of this work.
With them Hiram A. emigrated to Racine Coun ty, Wis., when a lad of seven years, and in Burlington has since made his home. His early education .was acquired in its public schools and supplemented by a year's study in Beloit College, when Dr. Chapin was President of that institution. His business training was received in his fathcr’s mercantile establishment, and since the 21st of April, 1859, with the exception of the years spent in the service of his country, he has been engaged in the hardware business in Burlington. He had closely watched the progress of events in the South prior to 1861, and determined that if the South struck the blow, he would march to the defense of his country.
On the 28th of August, 1861, Mr. Sheldon enlisted in the Utley Guards, organized in Burlington, and at the election of the officers of the company, Robert Hill, of the Ellsworth Zouaves, was made Captain, William E. Gibbons, who was a Sergeant in the Mexican War, was chosen First Lieutenant and H. A. Sheldon was elected Second Lieu
tenant. The village of Burlington furnished more troops to the country than any other place of its size in the Stats. This company was organized as Company C, First VVisconsin Regiment, under command of Col. John C. Starkweather, who had formerly been Captain of the Light Guards, of Milwaukee. The regiment was ordered to Jeffersonville, Ind., where it was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and became a part of the Fourteenth Corps under Gen. Thomas. The first order given, which was received October 7, 1861, was to report to Louisville, Ky., to Gen. Sherman. On the 10th of November they moved forward to the mouth of Salt River in Kentucky, and on the 3d of December reached Elizabethtown. Making a forced march of thirty-two miles, they reported to Gen. Negley at Camp Noline, where they were assigned to the Seventh Brigade of the Second Division. '
On the 11th of December they moved on to Bacon Creek, and on the 17th reached Kentucky, where the regiment went into winter quarters. Mr. Sheldon was present at the skirmish at White’s Pike, where the first Union soldier gave up his life for his country. He participated in the battles of the campaign from Pittsburg Landing to (‘orinth, was present at the battle and evacuation of the latter city, and being taken sick in the spring of 1862, was confined in a field hospital for a short time. He was in the campaign against Gen. Bragg through Northern Alabama and Tennessee to Louisville, Ky. On the 6th of August, 1862, Mr. Sheldon was appointed Captain of his company. At the battle of Perryville, Ky., he buried sixteen of his men, and intrying to recover the body of Maj. Schumacher, of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, made his way beyond the rebel lines. He participated in the battle of Stone River, which occurred on the last two days of 1862 and the first two day of 1863. At the battle of Chickamauga he led forth thirtyone troops and brought out only ten, which shows what great losses they there endured. Twice during that battle Capt. Sheldon had command of the regiment. He participated in the battles of Resaca, Dalton, Peach Tree Creek, those around Atlanta and the battle of Jonesdoro, Ga., September 4,1864, where the company lost heavily. He also was under fire at the battle of Buzzard’s Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Mission Ridge, and witnessed the Battle of Lookout Mountain, which by most old
veterans is conceded to be the most sublime and =
thrilling sight of the late war. It seemed that the guns of the opposing troops were only a few rods apart, and at dawn the thought came that it would be a miracle if the Federalists were not annihilated. Capt. Sheldon was present when Gen. Sherman marched into Marietta, Ga., July 4, 1864. There he had previously taught a military school, and there he had allied himself with the Union cause, at which time its citizens declared he should never again set foot on its streets, but with a victorious army the pavements again resounded to his footfall as he marched at lhe head of a conquering troop. At Jouesboro the regiment was ordered
back to Atlanta and there received orders to return i
to Milwaukee, Wis.,for muster out, where the captain was honorably discharged at the end of his three year’s term, October 13, 1864. He was always found at his post of duty commanding his company and inspiring them by his words and manner with his own bravery and fearlessness.
On his return, Capt. Sheldon again entered his hardware store, which had been carried on all through his absence. On the 28th of February,
1865, he wedded Miss Paulina A. Bristol, a native ,
of Monroe County, N. Y., and their union was blessed with two children, but the son, Robert H., is now deceased. Mabel L. is a graduate of the Burlington High School, also pursued a course of study in the Northwestern University, and has been educated in music. The mother, who was born October 29, 1842, died September 12, 1888. She also had graduated from the Burlington High School, and was a lady of intelligence and culture. An active and faithful member of the Congregational Church, she served as its organist, and her Christian influence was felt in every company in which she moved. She was greatly beloved by her many friends, who share with the husband and daughter in their great loss. During the war she had always championed the cause of the soldier, and did all in her power to promote their happiness, and when the Luther Crane Post held its first memorial services, after her death, a floral badge,
three and one half feet in height, was placed on her tomb, in remembrance of her kindness and generous actions.
In political sentiments, Mr. Sheldon was first a Free-soiler. He cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont and from that time has warmly advocated the principles of the Republican party.
_ He has never sought oflice for himself, but has aided
his friends with his influence. For about ten years he has been a member of the School Board, and for six years has served as its efficient President. Under his administration the schools have advanced in excellence, and his labors have been productive of much good in that direction. Socially he is a
‘ member of Luther Crane Post, No. 201, G. A. B.,
of which he served as Commander for the first two terms of its existence, and is now Quartermaster. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor; of the Masonic Lodge of Burlington; and of the Temple of Honor, which stamps him as a man of temperance principles. In religious belief he and his daughter are Congregationalists and take an active part in the work of church and Sunday-school. Mr. Sheldon is a member of the Board of Trustees of the church. His success as a merchant has been marked, his war record is one of honor and his honorable, upright life is well worthy of emulation
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Hiram A. Sheldon
This biography appears on pages 156-157 in "Soldiers' and Citizens' Album of Biographical Record containing personal sketches of Army Men and Citizens Prominent in loyalty to the Union" Published in 1890
Hiram A. Sheldon, Burlington Wis., member of G. A. R. Post No., 201, was born in Utica, Malcomb Co., Mich. May 13, 1835. His parents, Orson and Rose Ann (Lippitt) Sheldon, were both American by birth and of English origin. Mr. Sheldon is one of seven children - four boys and three girls - and four still survive, Julia E. (Mrs. L. W. Conkey), William C., H. Eugene and Mr. Sheldon of this sketch. Orson Sheldon was born in Rupert, Vt., Aug. 12, 1807, and was the son of Chauncey and Lucy (Whitney) Sheldon, the former being a soldier through the whole extent of the war of 1812. Orson Sheldon is the oldest of 10 children and has two sisters living. He resides with his son in Burlington, and, although he is in his 83d year (1889) he still retains undiminished his mental and physical faculties.
The family moved from Michigan to Burlington, Wis., in 1842 in the month of December, where the son obtained a good common school education, which he supplemented with a year of study at Beloit College. In 1859 he established his relations to the hardware business at Burlington, which he has since conducted there. Aug. 28, 1861, he joined the Utley Guards, and on the reorganization of the 1st Wisconsin Infantry, was assigned to Company C, with the commission of Second Lieutenant and accompanied the regiment from Camp Scott, Milwaukee, to Jeffersonville, Ind., crossing to Kentucky with the expectation of soon encountering Kirby Smith who was threatening that locality. He went in command of his company to service at West Point, Elizabethtown and Nolansville, performing varied military duty and constructing bridges, meanwhile watching rebel movements, the indications showing threatened trouble on the boarder. Lieutenant Sheldon received promotion to First Lieutenant Feb. 22, 1862, and on the 6th of the following August he was made Captain of Company C. March 8th he fought at "Granny White's Pike," where his company lost their blankets, and through the ensuing summer he assisted in the varied military duty in which his regiments was involved; and was next in action Oct. 8, at Perryville, where he has the satisfaction of assisting in a triumph over the rebels whose strength exceeded that of the Union troops. His regiment was in McCook's Corps and Ransom's Division. His company lost seven men killed and 13 wounded. He was next in heavy action at Stone River, where he was in the several days' action, helped to win another victory and mourned the loss of another considerable number of his men. The regiment was assigned after this action to the 14th Corps which moved southward under Thoams and, en route, was in frequent skirmishing and other military duty. September 19-20 he fought at Chickamauga, going into action with 31 men, of whom 10 answered to their names after the fight was over. But his sorrow was mitigated by the splendid courage they had manifested. The command went to Chattanooga to prepare for a continuation of hostilities, where they performed hard labor and suffered many hardships, resulting from their being almost wholly cut off from supplies. Mr. Sheldon recalls the severities of the preliminary conflicts before Chickamauga in view of the sharpness of those contests and also that at Mission Ridge. When the Atlanta campaign commenced, with his recruited company, he started to connect with the troops of Sherman, fought at Resaca, at Dallas and in several positions in Georgia known as Kenesaw Mountain where its situation was one of the most dangerous. July 20th, through the action at Peach Tree Creek, the regiment was in a similar situation. They remained in the trenches before Atlanta until they went to fight at Jonesboro, where the company again lost heavily; and afterwards returned to Atlanta, and remaining about two weeks, were ordered to Nashville preparatory to proceeding to Milwaukee to be mustered out Oct. 13, 1864, their term having expired.
With his military laurels, in which he takes just pride, Captain Sheldon returned to Burlington and resumed the duties of his business and his citizenship. He was married Feb. 28, 1865, to Paulina A. Bristol and they have had two children named Robert H. and Mabel. The son is deceased, his death having occurred Jan. 21, 1877. The daughter is completing a liberal education at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill. She is a promising young lady and the light of her father's home. The mother died Sep. 12, 1888. Captain Sheldon was the first man to suggest the feasibility of raising an entire volunteer company for the war, when the Government fixed a recruiting office at Burlington.
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